Customer Reviews

Wild Honey

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3 star:		(1)
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This has always been one of my favorite Beach Boys records. "Darlin" is essential, as is the magnificent title track. "Aren't You Glad" sparkles and "I'd Love Just Once to See You" is about as sweet a rock and roll song as you will ever hear.

It's not a masterpiece the way Pet Sounds is a masterpiece, but it is an excellent record, a great collection of tunes.

If you love, or even just like, the Beach Boys, I highly recommend WILD HONEY!

One could deem this a step backwards from the grandiose production techniques of "Pet Sounds" and even "Smiley Smile". But in no time further listening reveals this as a great offering of contemporary R&B and blue-eyed soul.

Carl Wilson's passionate lead vocals is one of the driving forces behind this record. The two R&B-inflected singles, the title track and the more popular "Darlin", are the most obvious examples. But it's also the indelible melodies and stripped-down arrangements on every track that bring this together like no other Beach Boys record has ever done. It doesn't try to be other than what it is, a great record of fun, humor and warmth. Keyboards dominate the instrumentation and this spare approach provides an ideal setting for the vocals.

Brian Wilson's input is still a major factor, but his presence is particularly felt with his quirky sense of humor on the record's three funniest cuts, "I'd Love Just Once To See You", "Here Comes The Night" and the acapella closer "Mama Says". The trademark harmonies are done to absolute perfection on "Country Air", a superb environmental anthem. "Let The Wind Blow", a mature love ballad, is perhaps their greatest melody. Lastly, there's Carl's soulful lead that rivals one of Motown's own greatest, Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made To Love Her". The feel of this short, unadulterated masterpiece. Sometimes brevity is its own reward.

While it may lack the sophistication of "Pet Sounds" and the weirdness of the psychedelic abortion that is "Smiley Smile", "Wild Honey" makes up for it by being filled with amazing, %100 no bull pop songs. The only song I don't like too much is "How She Boogalooed It", the first Beach Boys original without Brian Wilson's credit. Other than that this is an incredibly solid release of psych-funk-pop music written and recorded in 3 months time. Essential for any and all Beach Boys fans, especially on LP.

Anyone serious about pop music should own this record.

No it doesn't sound like Pet Sounds. And that's the point, damnit. This is Brian and Carl's version of "Get Back". It's simple, R&B flavoured and PERFECT. Your friends will never know it's the Beach Boys. Plus it will make you happy. It's a damn happy record made by 5 kids at the height of their powers. Put the title track on (loud) at your next party and see what happens. It's THE first home produced record (aside from Les Paul's work) and it's a full-tilt masterpiece. WAAY ahead of it's time.

I suppose this was Brian's reaction against the complex productions of Pet Sounds and Revolver.

Note: Carol Kaye plays bass on the Stevie Wonder cover "I was Made To Lover Her" as well as Stevie's version; -which I think was released shortly AFTER Wild Honey?

The Beach Boys are firmly in their post-Smile collapse here, though give them credit for trying something different with the soul-influenced title track and others. Unfortunately, this kind of singing really doesn't suit them, though "Darlin" is a good production. I suppose what's so maddening about this home-produced effort is that they seem to be still capable of great things, like the melody of "I'd Love Just Once To See You," but then it has silly lyrics and doesn't quite work out. Many good songs here, (including "Let the Wind Blow") but the production isn't what we had come to expect from them.